Contests rage behind the scenes

Sydney v Melbourne

Comparing Olympic and Commonwealth Games might be about as fair
as comparing Delta Goodrem's latest dirge to music  but, as
the Samoan triathlon team can tell you, life isn't meant to be
fair.

The similarities? Both events have been well organised, had a
friendly atmosphere and registered highly on the "Oi Oi Oi"
scale.

The differences? At Sydney 2000, the sport was merely the
undercard to the all-night parties.

Melburnians, on the other hand, pour from their trains and
trams, stream into the stadiums and then, the instant Australia has
been advanced fairly for the last time, rush home to watch the
highlights package. Which is as everyone, except the disappointed
city traders, might have expected.

Jana v Tamsyn

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me who would win
the Pittman-Lewis race, I would almost have enough for a
Games-priced sandwich. For the record, Pittman will run the 400
metres hurdles and Lewis will be in either the 400 flat or the
centrefold of Ralph magazine.

Unfortunately, efforts to settle this the old fashioned way,
self-publicist to self-publicist, have so far failed with Lewis
demanding the use of jelly and Pittman insisting on traditional
mud.

Basketball v Snooker

Reports suggest the first Commonwealth Games basketball
tournament could be the last with Delhi 2010 organisers keen to add
snooker or cricket to the program.

Having spent their time buzzing around Lauren Jackson's kneecaps
during a 146-46 defeat, you can't imagine even the Indian women's
team will be heartbroken to be voted off the Games island.

Sadly, it is too late to see the late great Eddie Charlton pot
gold. But I'm plumping for snooker as the replacement if only to
find out what "Whispering" Darrell Eastlake could do behind the
microphone. "Red! Black! Red! Oh-Ho-Ho-Ho!"

The Queen v Condi

It was expected to be a tight struggle between the veteran
monarch of the fallen empire which has our technical allegiance and
the political princess from the land towards which we now tug our
forelock. It turned out to be a walkover.

After a desultory performance at the opening ceremony, the Queen
disappeared the instant State Emergency Service workers could
remove Prime Minister Howard from her right elbow. Meanwhile, the
US secretary of state breezed into town, handed out medals, yukked
it up with athletes in the village and did a far more convincing
job than Geena Davis on Commander In Chief of showing a
woman could one day be US president.

Cyclists v swimmers

The swimmers  well, the female swimmers  and the
cyclists have been the "Aussie dream teams" of the Games. But,
besides enough medals to sink QEII, they don't have a lot in
common.

Can you imagine bubbly Libby Lenton telling Nicole Livingstone:
"I worked me bloody arse off for this." Or junk food addict Ryan
Bayley gushing: "Oh gosh, oh gee, it's just so awesome, I'm just so
happy to be here. Oh gosh, oh gee." Give us the cyclists any
day.

"Cardboard" Kenny Sutcliffe v Mark Nicholas

The choice of the Englishman Nicholas to anchor Nine's afternoon
coverage was controversial given he cannot comply to Nine's house
style by referring to Australians as "our" athletes, as in: "There
was more glory for our girls at the pool!"

But while Nicholas is so laid-back you would think he was
watching Leicestershire amble to 3-68 in the fourth hour of a
county match, his refreshing neutrality makes him a clear points
winner.

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1142703224101-smh.com.auhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/commentary/contests-rage-behind-the-scenes/2006/03/19/1142703224101.htmlsmh.com.auThe Age2006-03-20Contests rage behind the scenesRichard HindsLooking at the best of the head-to-head action from the Games.CommonwealthGamesCommentary